Shamrocks News

The Gaelic Book Store

E-mail Shamrocks

Ladies Championship � RIP

16 March 2003 - The Queensland Ladies Championship has been killed off and replaced by a four team finals format, following a special general meeting including all clubs last weekend.

The prestigious Championship knock-out competition open to all teams � along the same lines as soccer�s famous FA Cup in England, and a tradition of the world-governing GAA in Ireland for 120 years, the GAA in Queensland for 20 years, and staged in Queensland for ladies teams since 1998 � has been dumped.

In its place, three teams will be excluded, and the knock-out format replaced by a double-chance for the top teams.

Under the new format, the fairytale win by John Mitchels in the 2002 Championship semi final over previously undefeated Harps would count for nothing, with the top-placed teams now being given a second chance.

And the thrilling one-point win by fifth-placed East Celts over powerful Souths in the 2001 Championship quarter final would never have happened, because Easts would now be excluded.

Ladies football in Queensland � with the benefit of all teams competing in the Championship � has developed from a 7-a-side competition in 1997, a full league in 1998, significant representation in the Australasian team that won the World Cup in 2000 and 2002, Queensland securing the ladies Australasian Championship for the first time in 2002, to now being the strongest home-grown ladies Gaelic football in Australia.

The canceling of the Championship competition in Queensland applies only to the ladies competition.

Mens football retains the traditional season-ending Championship competition.

The Souths club won the ladies Queensland Championship in 2002 � now apparently the last time the trophy will ever be presented � Shamrocks in 2001, Harps in 2000, Souths in 1999, and Souths-Harps in 1998.

The 2003 season for mens and ladies competitions starts on Sunday 23rd March, with week one of the season-opening Brisbane Shield.

Shamrocks do need more mens and ladies players.

New or old players please call David Duguid on 0421 787 720 for details, and click here to register interest.

Shamrocks club training is from 7:30pm every Tuesday night at the Jindalee Recreational Reserve, Wongaburra Street, Jindalee. Everyone is welcome.

Related links:

Past Ladies Champinship winners

Training now Tuesdays

20 February 2003 - State of Origin fans are diving for TV remote controls as Shamrocks have changed training from the traditional Wednesdays to the new night of Tuesdays for 2003.

Three of the biggest nights on the Australian sports calendar � game one, two and three of rugby league�s State of Origin series � were set to again clash with Shamrocks club training, until club president David Duguid confirmed the change today.

All Shamrocks players will now be free to watch the major mid-week sporting events - either at the new Suncorp Stadium or in front of the big screen - without agonising over missing Shamrocks training on wet winter nights.

Training for Shamrocks will now start at 7:30pm on Tuesday 4th March, and continue every Tuesday at 7:30pm throughout the season.

For the sixth consecutive year, Shamrocks will train at the Jindalee Recreational Reserve, Wongaburra Street, Jindalee.

Without the change, Shamrocks training would have clashed with three rugby league State of Origin games, and Australia�s National Basketball League finals mid-week games.

Related links:

2003 Calendar

Training and playing venues

MORE NEWS